Sports writer with The Age

AS SHANE Warne vows to make amends, former Australian paceman Jeff Thomson says Big Bash League officials have made a mistake in flogging an ''old horse'' and has urged the leg-spin wizard to scrap suggestions of a Test comeback.

Warne, 43, was terrible in the Melbourne Stars' opening BBL clash on Friday night, an eight-wicket loss to cross-town rivals the Renegades, having 41 belted off his only two overs, the worst economy rate recorded in domestic Twenty20 in Australia.

The Stars captain also dropped South African Faf du Plessis while fielding at mid-wicket on a night batting brute Aaron Finch led his Renegades with an unbeaten 111 off only 65 balls.

Illustration: Matt Golding

Warne, as he was last season, has been used as a major marketing tool, for which he is well paid, and this year he has shared the limelight in Melbourne with another retired Test great, Muthiah Muralidaran, playing for the Renegades.

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Muralidaran, 40, was also wicketless at Etihad Stadium but was far less expensive in his four overs.

Having watched Warne getting thumped for four sixes, Thomson said it was time for BBL officials to rejig their promotional plans.

''I get sick of this every year - all they talk about is Warnie or Murali or someone else,'' he said.

''The Big Bash League, if that's all they have got to promote, they are promoting the wrong people.

''I am being serious. How long do you flog an old horse?

''You have a bloke like Finch batting out there, Dave Hussey got a 50 (he made 42 off 31 balls), what's up with that?

''I am not jealous. Don't get me wrong. You blokes [media] write about him [Warne] all the time and that's all he wants to hear. There are other people around.''

Thomson also noted that Warne spent most of the evening fielding at mid-wicket. This traditionally has been a key area for orchestrating run outs in one-day internationals, as Allan Border did so often, and is often a central spot for a captain to marshal his fieldsmen.

But Thomson felt Warne was there for other reasons.

''You field where he fielded [on Friday] night. That's a sign of an older guy as well. You don't want to be running around. You put yourself where you don't have to do the hard yards,'' he said.

Asked what impact another heavy pounding would have on Warne's mystique - his aura has intimidated batsmen through the years as much as his pure skill - Thomson replied: ''He is 43. You don't get better. We all dream that we can still do it but it doesn't get any easier.

''These young blokes aren't too bad, especially in Twenty20. It's a bit hard, it's such a quick game. To keep up with that stuff, I honestly think it's a young man's game.''

Thomson also said Australian captain Michael Clarke should end the chatter about a possible Warne comeback to the Test team. Clarke claims he has repeatedly asked his great friend to return to an arena he retired from in 2007.

''It's a backward step. I get sick of Michael Clarke [saying] 'I want him back'. What about just moving on?'' Thomson said.

''He [Warne] has had his day. We have to go ahead. What does that do to a young bloke who is trying to get into the side when we are picking 43-year-old blokes?

''This is not jealously. That's why I was having a go at [Ricky] Ponting for the last couple of years. He has been a great player but it's time to go. Look at what happened to him, he stayed another year and batted terribly.''

Warne took to Twitter post-match on Friday to declare he would rebound in time for the Stars' next clash, against the Hobart Hurricanes at the MCG on Saturday. He has a history of responding superbly to adversity.

''Well, that didn't really go to plan, sorry @StarsBBL fans, well played Renegades & @AaronFinch5. We will bounce back & so will I,'' he wrote.

Stars coach Greg Shipperd also endorsed Warne's sentiment.

''I'm sure he's disappointed,'' Shipperd said. ''He'll be back working on his skills and he'll be a different player next game I'm sure.

''It [the pitch] probably didn't turn at all.''

■Melbourne Renegades paceman Jayde Herrick will miss the entire Big Bash League season due to a foot injury sustained during his November 28 one-day game for Victoria against South Australia.

Herrick will be replaced by 26-year-old Jake Haberfield, a right-arm quick from South Australia.

Melbourne Renegades coach Simon Helmot said on Saturday the team had explored all avenues before ruling Herrick out of the competition based on medical advice.

While Helmot said it was a blow to lose Herrick, he was confident in the ability of Haberfield to make an impact for the Renegades.

■Ricky Ponting is in doubt with a stomach bug for the Hobart Hurricanes' Big Bash League Twenty20 opener against Brisbane Heat at the Gabba on Sunday night.

The former Test skipper has been struck down with illness after soaking up the last couple of days of the Australian Open golf tournament in Sydney.

3 comments so far

It's about time it was said out aloud. As good as they may have been, the old players should know when to go out gracefully, instead of denying a younger player the opportunity to develop into a Test player. 20/20 is rubbish, but this still highlights the problem. Warne seems to want attention (and money), but how does he benefit the team now, especially in the long run?

Commenter

Bum McFluff

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

December 09, 2012, 12:49PM

Give Clive Rose a go. A young guy with potential is what we need.

Commenter

justin

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

December 09, 2012, 1:26PM

this applies to all sports....sport isnt about the game anymore....its about how much money can be made from the sport,,,,capitalism at its best....i am teaching my children that money isnt everthing....try it with your kids ...then one day we may have sport back...to watch....and enjoy